Jack Whittle will take on the title role in the London season and UK tour of Harry Hill and Steve Brown’s hit musical comedy TONY! (The Tony Blair Rock Opera).
Whittle (The Play That Goes Wrong, Duchess Theatre) will play Tony Blair alongside original cast members Howard Samuels (The Sound of Music, UK tour) as Peter Mandelson, Martin Johnston (Footloose – The Musical, Novello Theatre) as Neil Kinnock and Rosie Strobel (Sister Act, Kilworth House Theatre) as John Prescott. They will be joined by Tori Burgess (Pride & Prejudice* (*Sort of), Criterion Theatre) as Cherie Blair, Phil Sealey (Rehab The Musical, Playground Theatre) as Gordon Brown, Sally Cheng (A Christmas Carol, RSC) as Robin Cook, Emma Jay Thomas (Ragtime, Piccadilly Theatre) as Princess Diana and William Hazell (Bayside The Musical, The Other Palace) as on-stage cover.
Cast members also play the other characters featured in the musical, including Saddam Hussein, Liam Gallagher, Alastair Campbell and Osama Bin Laden.
Featuring a book by superstar comedian Hill and music and lyrics by composer Brown, the show which takes a comic look at the controversial former PM and his journey from student wannabe rock star to politician and multi-millionaire, is due to follow its limited season at the Leicester Square Theatre from 15 April to 21 May by heading out on tour.
As previously announced the tour dates will include a visit to Tony Blair’s previous constituency of Sedgefield where the show will play the Parish Hall from 27 to 29 July. The tour will open at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford (25 May-3 June) before visiting Birmingham Rep (7-10 June), Cardiff New Theatre (14-17 June), Richmond Theatre (21-24 June), Brighton Theatre Royal (27 June-1 July), Bath Theatre Royal (3-8 July), Chester Storyhouse (11-15 July), Malvern Festival Theatre (18-22 July), Darlington Hippodrome (24-26 July), Pleasance at the Edinburgh Fringe (2-27 August) and The Lowry in Salford (2-7 October) with further dates to be added.
Commenting on the response to the show which played a sold-out world premier run at London’s Park Theatre last summer, creators Hill and Brown said: “After the great response from audiences on its launch this summer, we’re thrilled that TONY! is going on the road in 2023. It’s a show for Tony Lovers and Haters everywhere – and everyone in between – don’t expect a history lesson – in our world Tony’s born singing and dancing, Saddam Hussein is played as Groucho Marx and Gordon Brown occasionally turns into the Incredible Hulk – let’s just say all the facts are there… but not necessarily as they occurred!
“Tony hasn’t yet replied to our invite to see the show, but we do hope he’ll pop along to his old stomping ground of Sedgefield to give his verdict when we open there at the Parish Hall. Tony? If you’re reading this we’ve put a couple of tickets in your name on the door.”
Produced in the West End and on tour by Nicholson Green Productions, the Park Theatre production is directed by Peter Rowe, with choreography by Francesca Jaynes, set and costume design by Libby Watson and lighting design by Mark Dymock.
Described as Yes, Minister meets The Rocky Horror Show, TONY! (The Tony Blair Rock Opera) is the second musical from Hill and Brown, following on from I Can’t Sing, The X-Factor Musical which premiered at the London Palladium in 2013.
One of the UK’s best-loved comedians, multi-award-winning comedian, presenter and author Hill has been entertaining audiences for nearly 30 years. Composer, lyricist, arranger and record producer Brown has provided all the music arrangements for Hill’s radio, television and film work since 1997. Brown’s theatre credits include Evening Standard and Critics Circle Award winning musical Spend, Spend, Spend.
Angela Thomas
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.